Does anyone know of any free services in Pa. for someone that has cancer and no longer has health insurance?

Question

My 46 year old son in law was diagnosed with cancer last May and was told he has anywhere from 4 months to 4 years to live but would have to have chemo etc to help keep him live as long as possible. His boss at the time who he worked for 26 years told him that he was not to worry that as long as he(the boss) was alive he would pay for health insurance and wages for him. Well he's still alive but has now reneged on his promise. My son in law got a phone call 2 weeks ago from the cancer center that his insurance has been canceled. Is it true that an insurance company can cancel insurance for someone that has been receiving life sustaining treatment? I always thought that if you're being treated for an illness that the insurance has to continue for that treatment.

I tried setting him up with free adult basic care in Pa. his waiting time is 1- 1- 1/2 years.

I know that his boss probably doesn't legally have to pay but it would be the moral thing to do because he promised he would.

Thanks

Answer 1

Go to this site:

http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/OMAP/

It is the Pennsylvania Office of Medical Assistance Programs

Answer 2

His employer should have offered him the option of keeping the insurance via COBRA. You need to call the insurance company ASAP and find out how his polciy was canceled. Once you explain the situation you should be able to continue the coverage.

You may also find additional resources here.http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index...

http://www.insure.com/articles/healthins...

Answer 3

If it's really within 2 weeks he should be able to use the HIPAA law to find another insurance company, ASAP, and get a GUARANTOR policy. It's going to cost a BUNDLE--do not be surprised by $2K a month--but it is far cheaper than what would happen with NO insurance.

You probably have no case against the boss because it was a GIFT--what was in it for him? Feeling good about himself possibly, but that was it. Possibly he would at least contribute to a HIPAA plan. Worth a look.

I have no idea if this will help or not:

"Health Centers provide health and dental care to people of all ages, whether or not they have health insurance or the money to pay for health care.  

Find the Health Center closest to you



  

Hill-Burton Free & Reduced Cost Care at hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities are required to provide a specific amount of free or below cost health care to people unable to pay. Eligibility is based on the size of your family and your income. You apply for Hill-Burton care at the facility where you were or will be treated.  

More about Hill-Burton and find facilities in your State "

http://www.hrsa.gov/help/default.htm

At some point, if he basically goes bankrupt, he'd be eligible for Medicaid. SOME states have less punitive requirements for a different sort of state insurance. ALSO there are some states (around 33 I think) that have "high risk insurance pools" which would have insurance premiums less than what he'd get via HIPAA insurance.

As to the question of whether a policy can be cancelled while treatment is needed, you bet, it is done EVERY DAY with total impunity. None of the plans the media fawns over addresses this problem. The ONLY true insurance plan I've seen is here:

QUALITY, ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE health care for all.

That means preventative care (physical with follow up). Real medication (no Medicare "donut holes" the really ill are ripped off again.) No bogus ridiculously low "caps" on needed medical procedures. No abuse of the ER. No paying for the silly with the sniffles to go to the doc for free. No more bankruptcies over medical bills. I want THIS plan that ends abuse of the taxpayer, takes the burden off employers, provides price transparency, and ends the rip-off of the US taxpayer at the hands of greedy insurance CEOs (which has been repeatedly documented).

http://www.booklocker.com/books/3068.htm...

Read the PDF, not the blurb, for the bulk of the plan. Book is searchable on Amazon.com

Cassandra Nathan's Save America, Save the World

What happened to your son-in-law would not happen if THAT plan were in place. There is no graft or patronage possible, however, so for the many months I've contacted "movers and shakers" in politics primarily I have received NO response on even discussing it. It would end the problem of the uninsured, end medical bankruptcies, and end those few who get great insurance from abusing the system along with illegals who never pay a bill by putting SOME financial responsibility on every patient UNTIL and UNLESS it is a TRUE burden. Before that, a physical, follow up, discounted prescription meds, and if needed an ER visit are all to be had for a low co-pay. Because NOTHING in life is free, THIS is the way to shake out the users and abusers from those in need who would not ever again have to decide to die to save their family's money--and yes, that does happen.

God bless.